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Definition of cockerel

cockerel

/ˈkɑːk.ə.ɹəl/
cock · er · el
Plural:cockerels
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cockerel Lexical Profile

cockerel Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A young male domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), typically less than one year old; in British usage, also any adult male domestic chicken.

Example

"The young cockerel began practicing its crow at dawn, waking the entire farmyard."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for cockerel
Antonyms
View all antonyms for cockerel

Word Nuance & Usage

In poultry farming and North American English, 'cockerel' specifically denotes an immature male chicken under one year old (as opposed to an adult 'rooster'), whereas in British English it is commonly used for a male chicken of any age.

• Nearby Words

cockblocker
cockcrowing
cocker
cockerel
cockeyed
cockfight
cockfighting

Word Origin & Etymology

Originating in Middle English as 'cokerel', the word was formed as a double diminutive of 'cock' (from Old English 'cocc') using the diminutive suffix '-erel', which also appears in words like 'pickerel' and 'mongrel'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Cockerel. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/cockerel
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